Sunday, February 11, 2007

F is for French fries

Spring in the District of Columbia is breathtaking and brief. The time between too cold and too hot is too short. Naturally, the natives become restless.

Besides cherry blossoms, I have vernal Washington associated with a sudden necessity to get out of the office at lunchtime. At some point, Cheryl would call, or I would call her, with simply: “Ollie’s?”

Then we’d take the walk from 12th and D SW to 12th and E NW, not far from the Old Post Office Pavilion on Pennsylvania, for the graceful greasy grub that was Ollie’s Trolley.

For me, it was the French fries, always the French fries: the superseasoned deliciousness of them, the only fries I’ve ever had anywhere with caraway seeds.

French fries. With caraway seeds.

7 comments:

Sewa Yoleme said...

I think I made it Ollie's only once, and I missed the fries. But I thought of Ollie's quite often, mainly because it's in the same building as the Hotel Harrington, which also houses Harry's Saloon, where I'd occasionally meet a friend for cocktails before she'd go upstairs to have an assignation with a married man who came to town a few times a year. They always managed to get the same room.

Indigo Bunting said...

Ah, city life.

Cedar Waxwing said...

I've lived near DC for over two decades and have never eaten French fries (nor anything else) at Ollie's, although I've seen the trolley in passing.

Indigo Bunting said...

CW: I left DC in 1995, so I can't vouch for any quality since that time, but if it's been maintained, it may be worth risking your health for the flavor.

Otter said...

I really like how this blog is moving along in a random, fun and quirky way.
Fries with Caraway seeds...sounds intoxicating.

Jenny Hill said...

Delish! I'd love to try those fries. I ate at that old post office once...almost twenty years ago. I had spaghetti and was wearing a green skirt. Why do I remember this? I have no idea.

Enjoying your posts!

Indigo Bunting said...

JHK: No doubt now, when clicking on a link to your blog, I will picture you in a green skirt, eating spaghetti.